European Scanning Centre
 
HARLEY ST
LONDON
 
 
KINGSLEY HALL
MANCHESTER
 
 
ST JOSEPH'S
NEWPORT
 
 
COPSE WALK
CARDIFF
 
 
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • About Us
    • Our Team
  • OUR SERVICES
    • Cardiac Imaging
    • Lung Disease
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Musculoskeletal (MSK)
    • Osteoporosis
    • Neurological
    • Genitourinary
    • Gynaecological Imaging
    • Endocrine
    • Vascular
  • OUR TECHNOLOGY
    • About our technology
    • Aquilion ONE 640 slice CT scanner
    • MrOpen upright and open MRI scanner
    • EOS dual source upright CT scanner
    • Aplio 500 ultrasound scanner (Toshiba)
  • CLINICIANS
  • OUR LOCATIONS
    • London - Harley Street
    • Manchester - Kingsley Hall
    • Newport - St. Joseph's
    • Cardiff - Cardiff Gate Business Park

  • video bg 6
    Open and Upright
    MRI scanner
    A completely open MRI scanner
    that avoids the feeling of
    claustrophobia
  • preview video
    Upright and
    Weight bearing
    MRI Scanner
    The Open MRI Scanner can
    image patients sitting or
    standing
  • preview video
    Completely
    Non-Claustrophobic
    MRI Scanner

Wales only Non-Claustrophobic Open MRI and Upright MRI Scanner

  • Cardiff
  • Facilities
  • Scans & Services
  • Prices
  • How to find us

The Centre at Cardiff Gate Business Park has been carefully designed with patient comfort at the forefront with a warm and welcoming reception area and staff who have been specially chosen for their ability to put patients at ease.

Our MRI scanning room is spacious and calming and we have invested in wall and ceiling relax-vision panels to increase the open feeling of the room. Whilst being scanned, patients are able to watch television, listen to the radio or are welcome to bring in their music of choice.

Two way audio facilities allow our radiographers to communicate and reassure patients during their scan and the viewing window ensures that both the patient and the radiographer are always in the line of vision.

Our suite at Cardiff Gate Business Park comprises an:

Open and Upright MRI scanner (MrOpen, Paramed Medical Systems)

  • The scanner is completely open above and to the front and rear of the patient, thereby avoiding any sense of claustrophobia
  • Patients can be scanned in their position of pain whether it is sitting, standing, bending or lying down
  • Extra wide space ensures larger patients feel comfortable and relaxed during the scan
  • The magnet requires no liquid helium to cool , making it significantly quieter, safer and more environmentally friendly

If you require CT or an EOS scan, please refer to our London centre in Harley Street and our Partner in Newport at St Joseph's Hospital.

Open MRI Scans & Services available at ESC Cardiff

Open MRI Weight Bearing and Positional Scanning

Upright MRI is changing the clinical approach towards musculoskeletal imaging, particularly of the spine and joints, but also hips, knees, feet and ankles. By allowing earlier detection and more accurate diagnosis, it is improving overall patient outcomes.

Most symptoms experienced from pathology affecting our spines and joints are appreciated in the upright position, not when lying down. Unfortunately, conventional scanners can only image in the supine position.

The Open MRI Scanner can image the patient sitting or standing and also in positions that may be associated with maximal symptoms. In the spine, this strategy can uniquely be used to demonstrate instability e.g. due to vertebral slipping, or positional-dependent disc herniation.

Our experience indicates that upright imaging reveals significant abnormalities in approximately 30% of patients that are not visible on supine scans.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) Imaging

Musculoskeletal disorders are extremely common with 80% of adults having at least one episode of back pain in their life. Whilst the majority will get better on their own, a significant number will go on to develop disabling symptoms that require detailed assessment and management. The correct diagnosis of MSK conditions requires accurate imaging so as to facilitate the most effective treatment.

The ESC's Open and Upright MRI Scanner offers the unique ability to scan patients in the position that causes the most symptoms, which is nearly always standing up. We use upright scanning in an analogous way as conventional imaging utilises contrast. This improves diagnostic accuracy and frequently leads to improved clinical outcome. Our experience shows that upright imaging reveals significant abnormalities in approximately 30% of patients that are not visible on laying scans.

Pelvic Floor Dynamic Upright MRI

Stress or urge incontinence is a frequent occurrence in women, especially after child-birth. It results in involuntary or unintentional leaking of small amounts of urine during physical movement (e.g. coughing, sneezing and exercising). It causes considerable distress but is easily treated once correctly diagnosed.

Upright MRI allows more accurate diagnosis of this distressing condition compared to traditional physical examination or other imaging investigations. It does not use x-rays and is therefore safer than other techniques such asvoiding cystogram.

At ESC, pelvic MRI scans are performed with the patient sitting or standing, and then when they push down, straining into the pelvis. It is a much more physiologically relevant means of imaging and offers a novel and major advance in imaging this condition.

Neurology

Neurological symptoms such as persistent headaches or numbness are a frequent but worrying condition. We understand that individuals will wish for a rapid and definitive diagnosis but also that most current MRI scanners are unpleasant and claustrophobic. Our fully open MRI scanner offers a patient friendly experience and with rapid appointments and scan reporting by expert neuroradiologists allows a prompt answer.

ENT

MRI imaging is often used to look at internal soft tissue structures in detail, for example in the ear to exclude the possibility of a lesion affecting the hearing nerves. Our Open MRI scanner is suitable for all ENT examinations including examination of the IAMS (Internal Auditory Meatus) as well as performing excellent non-contrast MR angiograms of the Circle of Willis (main blood vessels withing the brain) to diagnose pulsatile tinnitus. It also allows superb imaging of the sinuses.

 

Cardiff Prices

We aim to be as competitive as possible in our pricing and do not seek to charge a premium for the specialist services we offer. However, our pricing has to reflect the significant increased costs of the open mri scanner (times that of a conventional scanner) and it’s increased installation costs.

We are recognised by all private medical insurance providers, if you wish to use your insurance, please bring your membership details with you and contact your insurer to get authorisation for the scan beforehand.


Open & Upright MRI Procedures Price
Open MRI 1 Part Scan   
£495
E.g. - Open MRI Brain/Head or MRI Spine (Lumbo-Sacral) Routine
Open MRI 2 Part Scan   
£695
For example - MRI Spine (Lumbo-Sacral) Routine + Upright or MRI Shoulder Routine + Upright
Open MRI 3 Part Scan   
£975
For example - MRI Spine (Cervical + Thoracic) Routine + Upright
Open MRI 4 Part Scan   
£1250
For example - MRI Total Spine
Contrast   
£150
For example - Gadolinium contrast medium makes certain tissues, abnormalities or disease processes more clearly visible

 

As well as standing (upright) and weight bearing scans, we also offer a range of MRI Flexion and Extension scanning. Please call for details.

 

The European Scanning Centre (Cardiff) is located within Cardiff Gate Business Park. We operate out of a beautifully furnished, 5* environment where every attention has been paid to our patient’s needs.

Our location makes us easily accessible by air, road and rail and we serve the whole of South and Mid Wales and South West of England and welcome patients from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

 

CARDIFF
02920 731 654
Services available: Open MRI

Speak to our friendly team to discuss your Open MRI requirements.

Lines open Mon - Fri 9am - 5:30pm

 

Request a call back

Complete a few details online and our friendly team will contact you to discuss your Open MRI scanning requirements and appointment availability

We aim to respond within a few hours

 

Referring clinicians
MRI Scan Referral Form

Referring clinicians click here to download your referral form

We accept self-referred patients, provided that they meet certain criteria for the performance of some types of scanning. Our trained advisors will be able to advise accordingly.

 

 

european scanning centre

London · Manchester · Cardiff · Newport

  • Our Technology
  • CT Scanning
  • Open & Upright MRI Scanning
  • EOS Dual Linear Scanner
  • Ultrasound Scanning
  • Services
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  • London
  • 68 Harley Street
    London
    W1G 7HE
    t: 020 7436 5755
    f: 020 7436 5756
     
  • Manchester
  • Kingsley Hall
    20 Bailey Lane
    Manchester
    M90 4AN
    t: 0161 493 9633
    f: 0161 437 1355
  • Newport
  • St. Joseph's Hospital
    Harding Avenue
    Newport
    NP20 6ZE
    t: 01633 820300
    f: 01633 858164
  • Cardiff
  • Cardiff Gate Business Park
    Unit G
    Copse Walk
    Cardiff
    CF23 8RB
    t: 02920 731 654
    f: 02920 736 958
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